Brave New World is a work of satire by Aldous Huxley to ridicule politics. Certain passages from the book are examples of satire.
One particular quote is when John the Savage disagrees with the mindset of the future utopia by professing the want for God, poetry, danger, freedom, goodness, and sin instead of comfort. The need for sin and goodness are a paradox. In Huxley’s utopian future, life seems to be perfect, with no worries and the drug soma in case times are rough. John the Savage is still dissatisfied with the hedonistic lifestyle because it is shallow and focuses on just one aspect of life. Logically, one would only want goodness in the world, but in reality the good is checked and balanced by the bad. Huxley is criticizing the need for absolute comfort and tries to show that in order to lead a balanced life, good and sin must be present. John’s want of a God is a way of Huxley’s ridiculing religion. In the conversation between Mustapha Mond and John the Savage, Mond states that God is present as an absence- not interfering. He claims that people only want God as they’re nearing death or suffering. So, in the future, remove suffering, and essentially the need for a God is also removed, thus showing an imbalance of good and evil in Huxley’s future utopia.
Freedom is a major element in the novel. It is another aspect of life that John wishes to have. Huxley exaggerates the lack of freedom in the Brave New World. For example, in the present time, any person can choose any occupation of their choice. In Brave New World, a person is born into a place in the caste system, and is thus conditioned to be perfectly happy in their place. People in the utopian future are often criticized because of choices. Bernard chooses not to go golfing and thus is snubbed by a woman at the Solidarity service. Lenina chooses to stay loyal to Henry for longer than usual and her friend regards this behavior as odd. In this light, the Brave New Worldians become slaves to their society and sacrifice personal freedom for comfort.
Huxley’s main message is to warn mankind not to take freedom for granted. Society should be glad that the government is not restricting the freedom of choice to do good or sin so life stays balanced.
Brave New World is a work of satire by Aldous Huxley to ridicule politics. Certain passages from the book are examples of satire.
One particular quote is when John the Savage disagrees with the mindset of the future utopia by professing the want for God, poetry, danger, freedom, goodness, and sin instead of comfort. The need for sin and goodness are a paradox. In Huxley’s utopian future, life seems to be perfect, with no worries and the drug soma in case times are rough. John the Savage is still dissatisfied with the hedonistic lifestyle because it is shallow and focuses on just one aspect of life. Logically, one would only want goodness in the world, but in reality the good is checked and balanced by the bad. Huxley is criticizing the need for absolute comfort and tries to show that in order to lead a balanced life, good and sin must be present. John’s want of a God is a way of Huxley’s ridiculing religion. In the conversation between Mustapha Mond and John the Savage, Mond states that God is present as an absence- not interfering. He claims that people only want God as they’re nearing death or suffering. So, in the future, remove suffering, and essentially the need for a God is also removed, thus showing an imbalance of good and evil in Huxley’s future utopia.
Freedom is a major element in the novel. It is another aspect of life that John wishes to have. Huxley exaggerates the lack of freedom in the Brave New World. For example, in the present time, any person can choose any occupation of their choice. In Brave New World, a person is born into a place in the caste system, and is thus conditioned to be perfectly happy in their place. People in the utopian future are often criticized because of choices. Bernard chooses not to go golfing and thus is snubbed by a woman at the Solidarity service. Lenina chooses to stay loyal to Henry for longer than usual and her friend regards this behavior as odd. In this light, the Brave New Worldians become slaves to their society and sacrifice personal freedom for comfort.
Huxley’s main message is to warn mankind not to take freedom for granted. Society should be glad that the government is not restricting the freedom of choice to do good or sin so life stays balanced.